COUTS
CALIFORNIA’S COUTS COUSINS
VOLUME 1 MAY - JUNE - JULY NUMBER
A quarterly Newsletter for the descendants of the Couts Family
WELCOME
It is the goal of this newsletter to create interest in and share the
research for the Couts (pronounced K-outz) and Allied Family
genealogy. It can only be written with the cooperation of each
family member. We encourage each of you to send in your
family group sheets (complete names, birth, death, locations,
children as well as you know them - if we get enough information,
we can connect you to your ancestors). The information that
you find within its covers will be as “true” as we can prove.
We NEED articles, photos, genealogy lines, and family stories.
I will happily scan pictures, write articles over the phone,
type the articles, and pay postage. Write, call, or e-mail...
THE CALIFORNIA COUTS COUSINS
There has been a question of who the California Couts Cousins are.
We are not all of the California Couts, but the descendants of
Clarence Roy Couts (b. August 10, 1902, d. May 13, 1989), and
Ruby Alberta Childers (b. October 2, 1907, d. May 31, 1990).
There are five of us and our families and a whole collection of
grandchildren for the guys:
*Clarence Couts Jr. (retired CHP, now a Realtor) married to
Wanda Louise Roller of Auburn California - children:
Clarence Dwayne and Mark Steven;
*Donald Lee Couts (retired Auto Mechanic -Sutter Co.) of
Yuba City, California married to 1) Beulah Vail Thompson -
children: Linda Sue Couts Lyons and Curtis Ray Couts 2.)
Carol Kunick;
*Rudolph Austin (we don’t know why Dad picked this name.
He said he liked it when he heard it) “Steve” Couts (Bus Driver)
Yuba City, California married 1) Cecilia Marie Newman (d. 1975)
children: Darryl Stephen Couts, Deborah Couts Trask, Michele
Rae Couts, Cory Michael Couts, 3.) Jillian Thomson children:
Kari Couts, Nikki Couts 4.) ?
*Thomas Earl Couts (retired Oil Ex.- now computer tech. and
cookie whiz) formerly of Moreno Valley, California, now of
Dominica West Indies, married 1.)Carole Luker children:
Thomas Couts Jr., Donnie Couts, and Ronnie Couts (deceased),
2.) Carol Anne Patton Couts children: Margaret Marion
Couts Richardson and Aaron Campbell Couts.
* Barbara Ann Couts Evans (Principal and Special Education Director)
married to Randy Niel Evans of Yuba City, California, children:
Alexandar Couts Evans and Meredith Alisa-Ann Evans.
BLACK DUTCH
One of the few things that our father (Clarence Roy Couts -
b. August 10, 1902, d. May 13, 1989) remembered about his
heritage was that his family always said that they were “Black Dutch”.
He said it had to do with the families’ coloration. He was 5’ 10”,
thick black hair, brown eyes, olive complexion, and stout (after he
moved to California). In investigating historical photographs, dad
bore a family resemblence to JR Couts and Cave Couts. He said
that “his people” were “German Black Dutch” because most Germans
were Blond and Blue-eyed.
When I asked around about the term, no one seemed to know it. I
decided to research the term, in order to see if its meaning could
locate a homeland region for our German immigrants. In the United
States, the term is very similar to “Pennsyvania Dutch”, where
“Dutch” is a corruption of “Deutch”. “Deutch” is the German word
for “German”. The uncorrupted term would be - “Pennsyvania Deutch”
[Pennsyvannia German] or “Black Deutch” [Black German} So, here
are the textbook versions, not much, but some:
Everston’s Genealogy July-Aug 1994 Question and Answer Box pg 231
“The following was taken from an article entitled, ‘The Mysterious Melungeons,”
by Mr. Arlee Gowen, which appeared in the September 1992 issue of
Stripes, the Texas State Genealogical Society Quarterly: ‘A Dutch revolt
against the Spanish monarch began (in) 1555 and continued to its
successful conclusion in 1609. The nation could not field enough soldiers
to defend the empire, and as a consequence, Spain subjected neighboring
Portugal and impressed Portuguese men into Spanish regiments throughout
the empire. [Some regiments were in Tennessee on a Spanish expedition
which explored eastern Tennessee in 1567]. It is more than credible that
Portuguese soldiers would desert or defect in Tennessee if the opportunity
presented itself.
‘As a sidelight, a genealogical anomaly resulted from this war. A new race
was created in the southern part of Holland during the six decades that
Spanish and Portuguese soldiers were stationed there. Their ‘fraternization’
with the Dutch girls produced dark-skinned children which were the
beginning of the ‘Black Dutch’.’
Mr. Gowen notes that these Melungeons were a dark skinned people who
wore beards and had straight black hair. Many had dark blue eyes. They
were found by John Seiver when his expedition crossed the Appalachians
in 1774.”
Dictionary of American Regional English, by Frederic G. Cassidy, a-c:
Black Dutch n. also Black Dutchman esp common Sth, S Midl, A
dark-complexioned people of uncertain origin: see quotes. Black
Dutch-Dark Pennsylvania Mountain people, probably of near Eastern
or aboriginal stock. NC, Black Dutch...A local type of people of
Germanic extraction. The people are low, not tall, small and have
black features...Just who the Black Dutch were originally seems to
be a mystery, though the term is well-known in the mountains.
NC55 Black Dutch-dark skinned, long hair, from England ?;
Names around here for people of mixed blood-part Indian.
Elke Hall, 500 Tabb Lakes Dr. Yorktown, VA 23693, (804)
867-8528 German Translator/Researcher
Southern Germans with dark hair
People from Southern Germany
People from the Black Forest Region of Germany
Who were the Black Dutch? Roots-M-request @rootsweb.com
Pat Michel
“The War of Spanish Succession, 1704-1714 fought by Austris,
England, the Netherlands and Prussia - against France and Spain,
arose over disputes over the succession to the throne of Spain on
the death of Charles II of Spain.
“Spanish soldiers married Dutch (Holland) girls, and their
children, whose coloring was olive, with black hair were called
“Black Dutch”. Their Holland neighbors were fair skinned and
blonde. this explanation seems to have come down in several
of your families who claim “Black Dutch” descent.”
JOURNEY TO PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania German Pioneers - Introduction
“The journey to Pennsylvania fell naturally into three parts.
The first part, and by no means the easiest, was the journey
down the Rhine to Rotterdam or some other port. Gottlieb
Mittelberger in his Journey to Pennsylvania in the year 1750,
writes:
‘This journey last from the beginning of May to the end of October,
fully half a year, amid such hardships as no one is able to
describe adequately with their misery. The cause is because the
Rhine boats from Heilbronn to Holland have to pass by 26 custom
houses, at all of which the ships are examined, which is done when
it suits the convenience of the customhouse officials. In the meantime,
the ships with the people are detained long, so that the passengers
have to spend much money. The trip down the Rhine, last therefore
four, five and even six weeks. When the ships come to Holland, they
are detained there likewise five to six weeks. Because things are very
dear there, the poor people have to spend nearly all they have during
that time.’
The second stage of the journey was from Rotterdam to one of the
English ports. Most of the ships called at Cowes, on Isle of Wight.
This was the favorite stopping place, as 142 ships are recorded as
having sailed from Rotterdam to Cowes. Other ships touched at one
of seven other channel ports. Taking them from east to west they
went. Deal, where twenty-two ships stopped, Dover, with eleven
ships, Portsmouth thirty-two ships, Gosport, near Portsmouth,
two ships, Porte in Dorsetshire, one ship (No. 109), Plymouth
two ships, Falmouth, in Cornwall, four ships. One ship (No. 297)
went from Rotterdam to London, one ship (No 263) from Rotterdam
to Berwick upon Tweed, on the east coast of England, near the
Scotch border, five ships from Rotterdam to Leith in Scotland
, two ships from Rotterdam to the Orkney Island (Nos. 110, 163)
and one ship from Rotterdam to St. Christopher, one of the
West India island.
In England, there was another delay of one to two weeks,
when the ships were waiting either to be passed throughM
the custom house or waiting`for favorable winds. When
the ships had for the last time weighed their anchors at
Cowes or some other port in England, thenl writes Mittelberger,
“the real misery begins`with the long`voyage. For fromM
there the ships, unless they have good wind, must often
sail eight, nine, ten to twelve weeks before they reach
Philadelphia. But even with the best wind the voyage
last seven weeks.”
The third stage of the journey, or the ocean voyage proper
, was marked by much suffering and hardship. The passengers
being packed densely, like herrings, as Mittelberger describes it,
without proper food and water, were soon subject to all sorts
of diseases, such as dysentery, scurvy, typhoid and smallpox.
Children were the first to be attacked and died in large numbers.
Mittelberger reports the deaths of thirty-two children on his
ship. Of the heartless cruelty practiced he gives the following
example: ‘ One day, just as we had a heavy gale, a woman in
our ship, who was to give birth and could not under the
circumstances of the storm, was pushed through the porthole
and dropped into the sea, because she was far in the rear of
the ship and could not be brought forward.’
The terrors of disease, brought about to a large extent by
poor food and lack of good drinking water, were much
aggravated by frequent storms through which ships and
passengers had to pass. ‘The misery reaches the climax
when a gale rages for two or three nights and days, so that
every one`believes that`the ship will go to the bottom
J with all human`beings on boardn `In such a visitation
the people cry and pray most piteouslyn `When in such
J a gale the sea`rages and surges,`so that the waves rise
often like mountains one above the other, and often
tumbled over the ship, so that one fears to go down
with the ship; when the ship is constantly tossed from
side to side by the storm and waves, so that no one can
either walk, or sit, or lie, and the closely packed people
in the berths are thereby tumbled over each other, both
he sick and the well --it will be readily understood that
many of these people none of whom had been prepared
for hardships, suffer so terribly from them that they do
not survive.’
When at last the Delaware River was reached and
the City of Brotherly Love hove in sight, where all their
miseries were to end, another delay occurred. A health
officer visited the ship and, if any persons with infectious
diseases were discovered on the ship, it was ordered to
remove one mile from the city.
A vivid account of the arrival of these passenger ships in
the harbor of Philadelphia, is given by the Rev. Henry M.
Muehlenberg, in a report, which he sent in the fall of the
year 1769. He writes:
‘After much delay one ship after another arrive in the
harbor of Philadelphia, when the rough and severe winter
is before the door. One or more merchants receive the lists
of freights and the agreement which the emigrants have
signed with their own hand in Holland, together with the
bills for their travel down the Rhine and the advances of
the ‘newlanders’ for provisions, which they received on the
ships on the account. Formerly the freight for a single
person was six to ten louis d’ors, but now it amounts to
fourteen to seventeen louis d’ors. (equal to about $4.50,
though its purchasing power at that time was much greater).
Before the ship is allowed to cast anchor at the harbor front,
the passengers are all examined, according to the law in force,
by a physician, as to whether any contagious disease exist
among them. Then the new arrivals are led in procession
to the City Hall and there they must render the oath of
allegiance to the king of Great Britain. After that, they
are brought back to the ship. Then announcements are
printed in the newspaper, stating how many of the new
arrivals are to be sold. Those who have money are released.
Whoever has well-to-do friends seeks a loan from them to
pay the passage, but`there are only a few who succeeä.
The ship becomes the market-place. The buyers make their
choice among the arrivals and bargain with them for a
certain number of years and days. They then take them
to the merchant, pay their passage and their other debts
and receive from the government authorities a written
document, which makes the newcomers their property
for a definite period.’
Muehlenberg was, therefore, entirely correct when
he stated that most of the ships reached Philadelphia
when the hardships of winter were staring the
newcomers in the face. Among the interesting
documents brought to Pennsylvania by the German
pioneers two deserve special mention.
The first was a passport, with which all the emigrants
coming from Germany and Switzerland were supposed
to be provided. The second document, which was taken
along on the journey to America, was a letter of
recommendation, issued by the pastor of the church
to the members of his flock, when they left their homes.“
(WHERE CAN WE FIND THOSE PAPERS?)
A SUMMARY OF RESEACH ON TETER COUTS
Names of Immigrants in Pennsylvania 1727-1776 , by Rupp,
Interpretation of Baptismal names, p. 483 & 494
Dietrich & Theodrick: “ Dietrich, Derrick, a patriot, or friend
to the people --F Pichler. The vulgar write Dieter; sometime
Ditrich, Tietrich, Dirk.
Theodor, Theodore, gift of God; Greek theos, a god, and doreo,
doreso, to bestow anything as a gift; doron, a gift, a present.
Name`of Foreigners Who`Took the Oath`of Allegiance,
EGLE Source # 4565, names of German, Swiss, and
other Immigrants-1750.
Dietrich Kautz, North America-Pennsyvania 1750,
he took the Oath of Alligance on the Edinbaugh
John Russell Captain, August 13, 1750, a ship
that traveled from Rotterdam by way of Cowles,
England. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index:
1983 Supplement.
Goodspeed’s History of Tn., Sumner Co. TN
pg. 798-802, Robertson Co. pg 828-848.
John Couts (Sr.) husband of Leah is said to have
a brother, Christophe², possibly others, Father, Dietrick,
- wife: Susannah, John’s sisters--one married a Gordon and
the other a Stark. John and Leah Couts have 8 children.
(REMEMBER: Because a book states something, it does
not necessarily make it true. It was however, written during
a time when local information would have know who John’s
family was. BUT, we have to find offical documents to
PROVE IT).
Teter’s Timeline:
Aug 13, 1750 Dieterich Kautz arrived on the Edinbaugh
Wrote his Father that he had bought land in Tulpehocken
Dec. 1753 Paid after funeral
Pages of Court Records: Chronicles of the
Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia,
extracted from the original court records of Augusta County
1745-1800 , by Lyman Chalkley Volume II.
Page 447 6th December, 1753. Sale bill of Nicholas Trout’s
estate to Viz: Jno. Love, Jno Hales Evan Evans.... Settlement
of above estate by Geo Trout, administrator, recorded 21st
May, 1766--Cash paid for liquor at the endue, 5 gallons at
3/;cash paid for liquor at a grubbing frolick, 6 quarts at 9
per quart, Lo.5.6.: cash paid for 6 quarts of liquor at the
funeral L04.6.: paid Teter Couts, Bernard Man. Included
many Germans names.
1754-1763 French and Indian War
1756 Was paid for the grubbing frolick (see above)
[get together to make a garden]
1758 Was paid for fighting in the French and
Indian War (where was the bounty land?) VA
Colonial Militia Henning Statutes at
Large, Crozier Vol. 11 pg 62
Militia 1758 Tetrarch Couch
Legislative Enactments - Augusta Co. page 39;
Henning Statues, Vol. 7 pg 179 -200
Tetrarach Couch, Adam Hendric, Lieutinant
Christian Bingaman, Capt. Francis Kirtley, General Andrew
Lewis, Gleaning VA History, Bashager.
1759 AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA - COURT ABSTRACTS:
Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, extracted
from the original court records of Augusta County 1745-1800,
by Lyman Chalkley Volume II. Page 358- 8th February, 1759
Vendue of John Wingord’s (Vinegard) estate- To...Tetrach
Couch, Frederick Ermantrout, John Couch, Christian Tetrach,
... Several others including many Germans.
1760Paid tithable with John Counts AUGUSTA COUNTY,
VIRGINIA - COURT ABSTRACTS: Chronicles of the
Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, extracted
from the original court records of Augusta County
1745-1800 , by Lyman Chalkley Volume II. Page 358,
Feb. 8, 1760- Andrew Bird, with two others, and William Logan,
Tetrich Counts and John Counts, added to tithables.
1760 circa Chrisley Sr. is born.
1761 Bought land ABSTRACTS: Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish
Settlement in Virginia, extracted from the original court
records of Augusta County 1745-1800 ,
by Lyman Chalkley Page 446 5th August, 1761-Same
to Teter Couts, L10, onWalnut Creek, branch of North
River of Shanando, James Gill’s old patent, being same
186 acres taken up by said James. Teste: John Thomas,
Robert Williams, Frederick ( ) Benter. Delivered:
Teter Couts, February, 1779. Deed Book #9?
1765 circa John Couts Sr. is born
1767-68 Procession: ABSTRACTS:
Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement inVinginia,
extracted from the original court records of Augusta
County 1745-1800 , by Lyman Chalkley Page 447
1767-68 John Dunkle and Michael Props Procession,
Processioned by ... viz: for Abraham Bird, present Teter Couts.
Page 447 Processioned by Thos Beggs and Michael
Humble from Brock’s Gap to Hampshire Line (referred
to the NE boundary line between Hampshire Co. and Augusta
Co, VA. Hampshire Co. is now part of W VA), viz:
For Abraham Bird, present Rudy 0 Mauk and
Teter Couts; for Teter Coutts, for Conrad Custard,
for Rudy Mauck, for Conrad Lamb, for Isaac Beackfield,
for John Miller, for Charles Man, for Thomas Wilsell,
for Conrad Custard Sr. for Jacob Trumbo, for Thomas
Beggs, for James Beggs, for JacobBare, for James
Marshall, for Andrew Trumbo, for Martin Witsell,
for Adam Reader, for Uriah Humble.
1771Abstract Surveys of the Shenandoah River
John Couts, 80 acres, branch of
Shenandoah River. Adjoining Teeters. January
20, 1771. Jacob Herman, 70 acres, branch of
Shenandoah River. Adjoining Couts. January 2, 1771.
Christian Teeter, 85 acres, branch of Shenandoah
River January 20, 1771.
Page 179. Christian Teeter, 85 acres, branch of
Shenandoah River, January 20, 1771
1775-81 Revolutionary War (Christopher
Coontz from Frederick Co. Va. fought
with George Rogers Clark. Teter would have been
a grandfather soon)
1777-1795The German Element of the Shenandoah
Valley of Virginia By John Walter
Wayland page 58E. Names of Persons who Sold Land
in Rockingham County from 1777 to 1793 From the
First Deed Book, No. 0 The Valley Germans
Appendix. Deter Kouts Others: Philip Armentrout, A.
Armentrout, Charles Grim, Joseph
Hawkins, John Drake, James Dyer, Abram Lincoln, Peter
Roller, James Skidmore.
1778 John Couts (Teter’s brother dies)
1786 Taxes in NC 1786 Tax List - Wayne County, North Carolina -Couch, Dederick
0-1-0Journal of N.C. Genealogy, Vol VIII, No. 1 March 1962
1787 Early KY Landholders 1787-1811 pg 65 Henry Couts/Coutch and Teeter Couts
April 1789 Land on Camp Creek Catawaba River - named as part of Lincoln Co NC
Dietrick said to be a resident of Garrard Co. KY
German Speaking People West of the Catawaba River in North Carolina 1750 -1800
DETERICH COUCH/KOOTCH/COOK purchased 300 acres on both sides of
`Camp Creek April 8, 1789, Lincoln Co, NC DB 16:85; DB 18:439 -
Unknown Court Documents from Nashville, Tennessee
Page 344 Nashville, January 6th, 1789, present Samuel Barton, Robert
Hays, Jno Kirkpatrick Deed, Jas. Siming (?) to Frederick Davis proven by
Frederick Koun(?). (item is very faded). Samuel Barton is a family name).
Kentucky Tax Records 1789 Henry Couts 1wm over 21, 1 horse or mule.
1790 Deter Kouts Lincoln County NC Census 1790: 2m-16, 1m 16+; 5f.
1791 ABSTRACTS: Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia,
extracted from the original court records of Augusta County 1745-1800 ,
by Lyman Chalkley :530-August 16, 1791-To Teter Cotes (indexed as
T. Cotes) from John Matthews and Mary, his wife, of Madison County (Va.),
40 acres for 40 pounds on the middle fork of Sugar Creek beginning at
a beach, ash, and sugar tree (maple)...John Flourney’s line...John Bryant...
acknowledged in court 16 August 1791, Mary examined privily.
1791 Lincoln County, Kentucky Records, Order Book 4, 1781-1794
part of the District of Kentucky, Virginia. August 16, 1791
Court of Quarter Sessions - pg. 40 Indenture from John Matthews
and Mary Matthews his wife, to Teter Cotes, was acknowledged
and dower relinqueished, and recorded.
1794 Source: Early Kentucky Landholders 1797-1811 Dated 7 May 1794
Book/Page 3.06
This land was on Sugar Creek and Henry Couts, Owned 50 Acres
on Sugar Creek.
1795 Henry and Dietrick list on tax rolls - 1795 Lincoln County Tax
Records Henry Couts 1 wmover 21 4 horses, 7 cattle, Sugar Creek, 50 acres;
Peter 1 wmover 21 and 1 horse.
1795 Owns land on Sugar Creek ABSTRACTS: Chronicles of the
Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, extracted from the original
court records of Augusta County 1745-1800 , by Lyman
Chalkley, C:3 August 18, 1795-Teter (indexed as Peter) Couts to
John Bryant, Both of Lincoln Co. No. Carolina, for 63 pounds
10 shillings, 40 acres in Lincoln Co. on the waters of Sugar Creek,
C-3 ( This is the land in A:520 (A:530). Witnesses were John
Hall, John Ferris and William Daugherty. Deed was acknowledged
in court by Teter Couts to be his act and ordered to be recorded on
18 August 1795. Nomention of his wife.
THE COUNTY BOUNDARIES CHANGE, BUT THE LAND STAYED THE SAME
1797 Sold land on Camp Creek German Speaking People West of the Catawaba River
in North Carolina 1750 -1800 Oct. 1797 he sold 50 acres on both sides of
Camp Creek and was then a resident of Garrard Co. KY.
1798 FILM 25146 PART 3 -1798 Couts, Henry and Sarah (Wife [Freeman]) Grantor
Coal, Ebenezer Grantee Deed Book A Page 116, 70 acres on Sugar Creek
1800 - 1805 Teter owned land on Rolling Fk, Lincoln County NC next to Garrard
County, which later became Hardin Co. - possibly part of the Dick’s R.
Teterick Keech is listed as Early Landholder 10 July 1800 Book/Page 3.16
Lincoln County --200 acres on Roling Fork with prior assignee being G. Harlan.
Dedirick Cooch is listed 30 July 1801 Book/Page3.07 Lincoln Co. 200 Acres
Roand Fork (presumed same land)
Detric Couch is listed 29 July 1802 Book/page 3.06 Lincoln, Co. 200 acres
prior assignee G. Harland
Tetrich Cooch 10 August 1803 Book/page 2.07, 200 acres, same location and
same prior assignee
Tetriarch Cooch 3 June 1804 Book/page 4.05 200 acres same location and
prior assignee
Tetrich Cooch 20 June 1805 Book/Page 2.07 200 acres same location and
prior assignee.
THE 200 ACRES ON ROLLING FORK LISTED IN LINCOLN
COUNTY FROM 1800 TO 1805 ASSIGNED TO TETRICK
KEECH, DEDRICK COOCH, DEDRIC COUCH, TETRICH
COOCH, TETRIARCH COOCH, AND TETRICH COOCH IS
BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME LAND AND THE SAME
OWNER, BUT SPELLED DIFFERENTLY EACH YEAR OF
TAX COLLECTION.
1802 Sarah Couts (wife of Henry - married 1786 in Lincoln Co. KY) has
a letter waiting at Dick’s River, Garrard Co.
1803 Henry owns land in Garrard Co. FILM 2664 PART 1 GARRARD
COUNTY, KY 1803 Couts, Henry Grantee; Freeman, Elisha
and Wife; Deed Book A Page 508; 50 acres Dicks River
1807 FILM 25146 PART 3 - 1807 Couts, Henry and Sarah (Wife)
Grantor Strange, Washington; Deed Book C Page 125, 50
Acres Dix River
1810 Henry owns land in Hardin Co. Rolling Forks (formerly Garrard and
J Lincoln Co) Probably`Teter’s old land.
JAMES S.`ARMSTRONG
Through my correspondence with a`number of people,`libraries,
and letters to editors, I was lucky enough to come`across Mr.
Armstrong. He has`been patience, informative, and extremely
knowledgeable about the Couts Family. He could be considered
the “family’s friend.” Mr. Armstrong’s family bought the
property where John Sr.’s cabin existed. Mr. Armstrong grew
up playing in the cemetery and building an interest in the Couts
Family’s History. The stories that he writes were “for the most
part”, told to him by relatives and in some cases proved by
records. Some of the stories came from people one or two
generations away from the family. Mr. Armstrong has a “knack”
for making his subjects come alive. Through the next few
issues, with his permission, we will print his wonderful stories.
JOHN COUTS JR. 9-12-1789 TO 5-2-1868
HENERIETTA OWEN COUTS 6-23-1800 TO 7-20-82
July 1, 1800; Bk. 13; pg. 321, of county court records,
states that a land transaction between, Thomas Woodard and
John Couts, Sr. for $700.00. Mr. Couts purchased 100
acres of land on the south side of Beaver Creek. This tract
of land originally contained 228 acres, was granted to John
Standley, by the state of North Carolina. This transfer of
ownership included not only the land but the grist mill and
dam. These facilities were located about 100 yards above
the present Owens Chapel bridge that spans the creek.M
` This farm is identified today the homes`build on the M
Beaver Creek Subdivision by Mrn Ben Wilkerson.` `The land
opposite the subdivision and now the`north side of`the creek was
Joriginally owned by Mr. Woodard`and today by Mr. & Mrs. Gaston.
When John Sr. bought this land it was mostly undeveloped.
He set his slaves to work to build a log home near where
the present machinery shed stands today. A log stack barn
and split rail fences were laid to contain the work stack.
John, Jr. married Henerietta Owens at the home of
her parents, near the present Owens Chapel Church. As
a wedding present John Sr. gave his son the Woodard
land and made it official in his will in 1828. Mr. John
Sr.’s death helped John Jr. by giving him 50 acres more
as shown in his will.
Before the Civil War, John Jr. build a frame home
that stood where the Larry Richardson home stands today.
According to established records, John Jr. manufactured
sour mash whiskey and was very successful until flood waters
of Beaver Creek destroyed the mill and distillery buildings.
It has been difficult to pinpoint the date of the catastrophe
, but by best estimates it was between 1865-68. Some said
he was in poor health and decided it was a good time to stop.
Henerietta’s father James W. Owen was born in Virginia
and served in the American Revolutionary War, as a substitute
for his father, Valentine Owen.
James was married to Ann Wilks, June 1786. The Wilks
were a well known family of Brunswick Co. Virginia.
After military service settled in Warren County, N.C.,
but became dissatisfied and moved over the mountains to
Robertson County during 1808 and purchased a farm in
what is now the Owens Chapel Community.
During the same year, my great-grandfather,
Thomas Savage bought land adjacent to Mr. Owen.
He married Nancy Owen the same year that John Couts Jr.
married Henerietta Owens. Francis Owen married Eli Baggett
(friend of Jackson). Her younger sister Minor married
Jesse Baggett and after his death married James Sprouse
(this marriage is the foundation for the Sprouse of
Robertson County).
James Owen Jr. married Susan Baggett, sister to Eli.
The blood thickened and they became a close knit family with
visitation and family get togethers at the Couts home and
Eli’s home.
John Jr. died 5-2-1868, and was buried in a new
cemetery on the high hill overlooking the farm and home.
` Due to a lack of`maintenance the`plot is overgro÷n with
trees and underbrush.
In closing his short sketch on John Couts Jr.’s life
and times, Mrs. Kay Gaston in her research of ancestors,
Willie Woodard revealed this inter
rupting note “Mr. Willie Woodard will attend at John
Couts old mill by 11a.m. armed and equipped for the purpose
of being trained in the militia discipline on the 22nd of
September, 1812”.
The “Old Mill” referred to was located on Beaver
Dam Creek about 100 yards above the Couts home. The
mill was built by the first owner of the land, John Stanley
(land grant). Three years later he sold the tract to Mr.
Willie Woodard, who in turn sold to John Couts Sr.
Part of this farm is referred to in Mr. John’s Will to his son.
OLD LETTERS AND OTHER FAMILY TREASURES
C.J. “Bo” Couts did extensive research in the seventies and
received a number of letters of previous and contemporary
researchers. Hopefully, we will have time to type them and
yours into the newsletters
LETTER FROM: NANCY JOHNSON COUTS (WIFE OF
WILLIAM, MOTHER OF CJC) TO CAVE JOHNSON
COUTS, FROM VAN RENSSLAER MATERIAL
May the 10 55 (1855)
Dear Cave
I received your letter the other day and was very
glad to hear from you all the first time I have heard from
you since December why dot Blunt write I have not
received no letter from him since November and then
he promised to rite often I am afraid he is sick or he
would rite every day`we are getting along as well as`we
can George`will not go to 3c(ool and he is in the field
hard at work with hands he went to school about 3
weeks the first of the year and he took sore eyes and
the were sore for a week and he would not go eny more
I begged him and done everything; I could to get him
to go out I could not he said he had as mutch learning
as papa had and if he could along as well as he did he
was satisfyed so I told him he had no one to blame but
himself and he must learn to work if you will not go to
school Tom is trying to get a l¯ng and I think will do
verry well I he can have his helth he has had one hard
spell of sickness since he has move home he is very
industrious He has got his crop all in he came hear to
he other day was near when he got your letter and was
quite sick every now and then he chills and fevers
May the 11 I do not no when I spent more agreeable
day then this early this morning Uncle Henry Johnson
came to see me he staid all day with me and tonight went
over to Mr Krisiles he heard I got a letter from you and
he said he come just to hear from you and Blount and
Henry He says he always loved you all and he said I must
give you his love and your wife too the old man is in his
eighty sixth year and he said Father was too years older
than he was he talk a great deal about old times the old
man is verry peart he road horse back he brought a little
negro boy with him he said he does not no what might
happend so he allways takes Foster with him Sophia Couts
was married a few months ago to a Mr. Dunn they staid
with me last night she was the yongest child of your Uncle
Jackson’s family
O Cave I suppose you have heard of my tryals and troubles
and Julia’s misfortunes I never would rite to you a bout it
for fear you never would come home but I heard that John
had ritten all about it to you it came very near as killing me
but wont let that keep you from coming I I can look back
and see if it had not been for Reynolds that the never would
have been a hard thought in my family and if he had a staid
in it a few years longer he would have ruined more
I am your mother Nancy Couts
Your grandfather Johnson was born in North Carolina
I believe he moved to this county the first settler of it
and you grand mother he married in Kentucky and they
came to where he and her both dyed both to miles from
hear and when they were moving from Kentucky the
Indians chaist them nearly a day Soon after they got
home he was ordered but to nicajak and your grand mother
and great grand mother her name was Nowel saw Indians
nearly every day whiles your grandfather was gone and he
was in the Creek Nation war with the Indians at the
Battle of Horse Shoe and Taaiphora (illegible) and Taliidig
(illegible) in the year 12 and 13 as a Brigidear General he
was in his 55 year when dyed and has been 30 years last
march since he dyed your grandmother has been dead 40
years last September whilst they lay sick your father came
home with Brother Taylor Johnson from school and after
he left he one took up a notion that he was goynt to come
to see me he said Nancy your must have Billy Couts I
told her he had no notion of coming to see Well they said
if he dose whil you have (2 words illegible)
Nancy I never will get well and I no he will take care of you
for I have none his father and mother a long time and him
from his cradle and you have been school children together
so I promised her I would if he courted me. She lived 2
weaks after. she never saw him no more it was 5 or 6
months before he ast me he said we new each other a long
time and had been school children together and when he
ast for me your grandfather told him he could not say a
word against it for if my mother was living I could not
please her better so we married the 10 April 1817. Your
granny Couts told this to me that your father said when
he as a little boy if he ever got married he would try to get
Nancy Johnson she was sutch a pretty girl and a good one
that all the school loved her your grandfather Couts was
born in Virginia so says his sister. she lived half a mile from
here, she is 95 years old, he moved to Tennessee the first
settler of it I have forgot his age but he dyed (1829) that
summer Blount was born and your granny Couts was born
in South Carolina her father was one of the first settlers in
Tennessee lived 3 miles from where your father was born
and raised and I was born and raised too miles from here.
John was born 21 October 1818
Mary was born Feb 2 1820
Cave was born Nove 11, 1821
Martha June the 30 1823
Betsy January the 15, 1825
Julia Sept the 25 1827
Willie (Blount) July the 18 1829
tom Oct. the 25 1831
Billy July the 5 1833 and dyed December 8 1840
George May the 8 1835
Medora Oct 11 1837 and dyed Aug. 3 1838
Joseph was born 23 of December dead
Your father was born Mar. 5 1795
I was born Nov. the 19 ‘98 (1798)
So I told youmall the ages and all of the family as well as
I no you said you had roat for it several times but I never
got the letter nor herd of it before kiss the children for
their grandmother and Isadora to and tell her I hope to
see her before long
I am your mother Nancy Couts
JAMES T. VAN RENSSELAER
31142 FLYING CLOUD DRIVE
LAUGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA 02677
Dear Mrs. Hayden:
If your Mary Couts came from Springfield, Tenn., she
undoubtedly was related to John Couts, whom you refer
to as “old John”. he was born in Virginia, married Leah
Stark, who was born in south Carolina, and migrated to
Springfield around 1790 or perhaps shortly before that
time. John Couts was of German descent. You will find
the names of Couts and Coutts in early colonial history in
Virginia and South Carolina, but they are of Scottish or
English descent and are not related to the Couts of Tennessee.
Since John Couts was unable to read or write (his will is
signed with a cross) it is probable his forbears, on arrival in
this country from Germany, were unable to write their name,
and it was transcribed by an English clerk as “Couts.” In
German it could have been Kautz, a not uncommon name.
Mary Couts may have been John Couts sister or the daughter
of one of his brothers. he did have a sister living in Springfield
as late as 1855. But she was 95 years old at that time. I have a
letter written to Cave Couts, (son of William Couts whose fathe
r was John Couts) by his mother in 1855. she said “Your
grandfather (John) Couts was born in Virginia. So says his sister.
She lives half a mile from here. She is 95 years old. Your granny
Couts (Leah Stark) was born in South Carolina.” The old house in
which this letter was written is still standing in a corn field about
3 miles up Sulphur Creek north of Springfield.
John Couts may have had one or two brothers who came with
him to Tennessee. I have found a William and Crosley Couts,
who could have been John’s brothers, evidently living at
Springfield in the early 1800s. But I can find no Couts in
the area who do not stem back to John, (they went to Indiana)
so I can only presume they left no male descendants.
I have been unable to trace John Couts in North or South
Carolina or Virginia. I found a pay warrant for service in
Roebuck’s regiment during the Revolution made out to a John
Couts. Roebuck’s regiment was recruited at Spartanburg and
it is quite possible that John did serve in this militia organized
during the Revolution. I would be interested in anything further
you develop. I have not previously encountered the name Vaughan.
(Vaughan is believed to be the married name of Mary, daughter
of William Couts, brother to John and Chrisley)
Sincerely,
J.T. Van Rensselaer
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